Lamp base sale!!!

ALL LAMP BASES $50.00 NOW-VALENTINE'S DAY
Okay, I will say it: I'm not monogamous. At least when it comes to lamp bases. I can't help it, there are so many wonderful lamps in the world, and so many horrible shades on them, that I just can't help wanting to rescue as many as possible and rewire them and re vamp their look with a lovely LiT shade. That being said, I'm starting to feel restless and my gaze is beginning to wander...from my auction find that I spent an hour and $45.00 in parts rewiring to the lamp base I recently saw in a window of a junk shop. It wasn't much, a Hollywood Regency piece that was surprisingly small for it's time period, gold touches on the porcelain palm fronds, brass details...but to me, all I could see was a forgotten Hollywood screen star that just needed a little celluloid magic to show that she was down-but not out.
So here's where you come in: these lamp bases I have need a good home. A partner who won't leave them for some 100 year old relic she found dusty and forgotten in the back of a Bainbridge Island Goodwill. I have decided, go big or go home, so regardless of the price I paid, the $ I put in rewiring them with quality sockets and antique fabric cords, all table lamps at LiT are $50.00 Now-Valentine's Day. Why V day? Well, I figure, if they haven't gone by then, the lonely lamps and I will spend the holiday getting to know each other over a sad bottle of Champagne and chocolates. Here's to you finding each other. Call me matchmaker, because I have the perfect shade to complete you as a pair too.

MOVIE MAGIC!

It's movie magic! Hey everyone, it's Dawn, I went down and around the corner from the shop, to visit some LiTshades that were cast in the movie "The Details" which features Tobey Maguire and Laura Linney. The set designer, Jean, is so kind and generously and she took the time to show me around and explain some of that movie magic to me.

Looking into one of my LiTshades, I find what is called in the biz "black out paper" around the top of the light bulb. This is to stop light from projecting up and concentrate the glow down and out. Another fun trick; the lighting for the set was hung from metal beams that are pressured at the tops of the walls, that way a grid is formed and the can lights are movable. The entire space was empty before the film, walls were painted and wallpapered, furniture was moved in, even tooth brushes and kitch, like fridge magnets and groceries in the cupboard, were all picked and put into place.

My favorite was Laura Linney's character's house; crazy wallpaper, little porcelain figurines, cat-scratched furniture, even sun bleached pink flamingos in the yard! It was a bit like breaking and entering, but oddly fascinating as well.

So, if you want to catch some LiTshades on the big screen, go see the film "The Details", we will keep you informed on when it premiers, till then, I have to go tell my little brother that my lamp shades will be in Spider Man's house.
Britt will continue posting on Monday, till then, Get LiT!
~Dawn

Silky Silky

Now that I have been in Vietnam for a week and a half....a LONG week and a half...I have started to get used to the heat, the stares and the cultural hurtles. What I don't think I will ever get used to is the amazing silk stores on every corner!

I knew Vietnam was renowned for it's silk, but could never have expected so many patterns, textures and so many colors. I know what you're thinking, "thanks Britt I really want a LiTshade made out of an amazing silk and from Vietnam, but I don't think I could suffer the heat to go get some of my own." Well, of course you know, with Dawn being my amazing friend I would have to bring her back something from my trip and why not bring her back some of these one-of-a-kind pieces of silk?

Now don't think you can get this silk now, I won't be back for another week and a half but until then go visit Dawn at the shop and begin to think about what shapes and sizes you want for your next LiTshade ,you might just realize you need more then just one.

Side Note: Unfortunately, I haven't had my camera when I have passed these silk stands yet, so I figured an image of Nha Trang for now would be just as good.

Osborne and Little

Brightly colored patterns swept over walls, bedspreads, and of course, LiT's lamp shades. The vivid prints and amazing patterns of Osborne and Little often provide the inspiration for a number of Dawns shades, but how did such amazing patterns begin?

London in the 1960’s was a crazy, colorful time especially in Chelsea, so what better place for brothers-in-law, Peter Osborne and Antony Little to open a small showroom selling exquisitely designed hand printed wallpapers which became an instant success. Over the years the business has expanded it's product range to include fabrics, trims, furniture and accessories,while reaching a global audience but never forgetting their roots.It is their fashionable, colorful beginnings which have kept Osborne & Little's designs at the heart of interior trends for the past four decades. From their paint effect wallpapers of the 1980's and the celestial star, sun and moon motifs of the 1990's to the many contemporary patterns using metallics and flocks of today.

In order to continue their worldwide success Osborne & Little have built many working relationships with a number of other amazing artists who share the same creativity and passion; internationally renowned interior designer Nina Campbell, Michael Reeve who does amazing upholstered furniture, world-famous Liberty Furnishings and the chic Parisian design studio Lorca.

It is their never-ending creative focus and desire to maintain their reputation which keeps them at the top of the interior game. How could Osborn and Little not be one of Dawn‘s favorites? Next time you want to add a little color to your home, consider a LiTshade in a fabric or paper from Osborne and Little.

Floor Lamps and Faith Sheridan

Being in the lighting world, we are always looking for those who are as interested in lighting design as much as we are. Our friend and interior designer, Faith Sheridan is one of those interested few. Her blog post yesterday is in perfect timing with our new line of Piano Nobile floor lamps found exclusively at LiT;

“A floor lamp can, add vertical dimension to a room design and offer an interruption from the horizontal lines of the sofa, chairs and tables. They are a great way to finish a space and brighten a corner or provide a great light source for reading your novel or newspaper.”

She also wrote how floor lamps are great space savers. We couldn’t agree more. LiT has a number of custom designed or vintage floor lamp bases with a number of shade options. Or you can even bring your own base and design a shade around it.

Speaking of shades (a subject we are all too keen on), Faith agrees with Dawn that using the incredibly stylish "over-sized" drum shade will “diffuse glow in the room.”

With so many shade choices and base solutions, it only makes sense to come into LiT for you next floor lamp

Feel the Power of the Flower

April showers bring May flowers; true, but those flowers are wet! This May is a rainy one. Still, Spring is upon us which means flowers are in full bloom. This years spring explosion can not only be found in the garden but is prevalent in both fashion and interior design. Floral patterns are found on everything from dresses, to wallpaper, to sofas, to you guessed it- lamp shades. The problem often faced with this in-house flower power explosion is that not everyone knows how to effectively design with florals.

Lead designer with Surface in Portland Kara Bertolucci suggests using florals sparingly, “you never want a huge amount of floral patterns in a room like on a chair or a sofa, instead touches of bright floral patterns work best. Use your lamp shades as a way to marry the multiple points in a room, by the color and patterns."

Kara also uses florals as a way to bring the outside in-even if you live in an apartment in the city and have no yard, “it just gives you a sense of peace and happiness to see flowers in your home.”
LiT carries a number of premade floral print shades in a number of sizes and colors, and if you can’t find just the floral you want, the fabric and wallpaper books by some of the best designers in the biz offer everything from big, bold and bright to tiny, subtle and sweet.

Get in touch with your inner flower child and add that touch of flower power this spring to your décor with a floral print LiTshade. Listen to Kara, she’s a professional.

Dancing Bears and LiTshades?

When I was ten my mother changed careers and became an interior designer. The year was 1990 and her first “design job” was in a wallpaper store. The 90’s, or really anytime before, was a hard time aesthetically for wallpaper. The featured wallpaper at the time was bears dancing in a rather strange manner while having a picnic, I wonder how that idea even came about...?

Wallpaper has changed a lot since the 90’s. Dancing bears are a thing of the past, and wallpaper just isn’t for walls any more.

Per usual, Dawn has taken something originally designed for one purpose, and shed a whole new light on it. (Pardon the pun). Her wallpaper LiTshades feature paper in amazing patterns on either the inside or the outside of the shade, or even, (dare I say it), both inside and outside! No more dancing bears or basic stripes. Working with proprietress, friend and shop sharer-wallpaper connoisseur, Jennifer June of Hermitage, wallpaper now come in a selection of everything from metallic silver, bright prints to vintage inspired patterns. These are the looks hitting runway walls from LiT to London! Traditional patterns from Farrow and Ball, contemporary designs from Ferm or Kreme and even intricately designed art prints from Louise Body or Deborah Bowness are all options, and let's not forget the amazing papers from Dawn's favorite, Osbourne and Little. You name it LiT and Hermitage can get it.

It’s the new century- throw your idea of dancing bears, harlequins and paisley out the window and think of what wallpaper can be; on your new LiTshade

Let's talk about Ceiling Pendants

Dear Get LiT readers,

We at LiT understand the economy is challenging, and that $2,000 ceiling pendant you love for above your table just isn’t in your budget, with the new spring shoe lines in the stores and all, what is a girl to do? We at LiT are here to help.

Why not have a reasonably priced LiT ceiling pendant made for above your table? Dawn uses the same skill and concepts as seen in her LiTshades but instead these amazing pieces hang from the ceiling. With the use of basic white cord or antique bronze twist cord and glass sockets (for light bulb discreetness), your new LiT pendant will become the focal point of any room and the talk of the neighborhood.

Who said a lamp shade maker should only stay on the ground? Why not reach for the stars or in this case the ceiling and look to LiT for you next pendant piece.
Thanks for being loyal readers,
XOXO
LiT

LiT Makes Gift Giving a Breeze!

Spring has sprung, birds are chirping and love is in the air. What does this mean for you? Wedding season!

With wedding season comes the dilema of figuring out whether or not you should splurge and get the “oh so happy couple” a toaster or the crystal punch bowl they registered for, (the one you know they will never use).

We at LiT we vote you take a different approach to gift giving, and give the new pair something they can use- like a custom designed LiTshade. Since we know the economy is a little unsteady and you have a lot of weddings to attend, LiT is offering our shade kit at 25% off the original price, what a steal!

Here’s how it works;
You (the gift giver), purchases the kit, which includes samples and direction cards, a nice little congratulatory note from you, and the knowledge of the final product being shipped directly to the newlyweds house.
They (Newlyweds), choose from three papers, 21 silks and three different application techniques for their LiTshade. They then will return their choice card in the self addressed stamped envelope with their selections.
We (LiT), receives the order, creates their custom LiTshade and sends it directly to the happy couple within three weeks.
To order visit our website and click “here.”

It’s just our way of trying to ease the burden of gift giving in your busy life. The LiTshade gift kit would also be a great way to let your mother knows how much you care, after all Mothers Day is May 10th. Plus the LiTshade kit sure beats making a birdhouse out of Popsicle sticks, I’m just saying.

How Green are We, Part II

As we've mentioned before if you don't like saving the world you will not have any friends. And we at LiT understand having friends is important, I mean if Dawn stopped saving the world through her LiTshades I don't know if I could be her friend anymore, which would greatly decrease my wardrobe. This is why late morning last Friday, when Dawn was trying to order supplies our friendship was put in jeopardy.

Friday started like any day, Dawn was at the shop taking stock of materials, figuring out what LIT was low on. She realized she had a half roll of the dulcote (paper backing material used for making hardback lampshades, another time). She realized it was a bit premature, but decided to call her source to order another roll, due to it sometimes taking a while to track down.

This is how Kyle came into the picture. Kyle is Dawn's vendor, and when she called to order more paper from Kyle he told her they don't make her paper anymore. So where did this leave Dawn, well in her words, "a shade maker, left in the dark." (We're so witty sometimes).

Before panicking Dawn called a few more sources, but alas she basically encountered different forms of Kyle telling her the same thing. Now what,? Are you on the edge of your seat yet, because here is where it gets good? The other "Kyles" told her she could always use styrene. The same styrene I told you she does not use in our "Light the Way" post, the same styrene (plastic backing) she refuses to use because it is a petro-based material, non renewable and off-gases toxic fumes.

Dawn felt that there must be another solution. The only way around her earth-endangering dilemma was to now use non-laminated dulcote and do the laminating herself (yeah, she's that good.) Yes, it is another rather time consuming step, but Dawn knows it's a step in the right direction.

Needless to say our friendship and the world was saved, and all you who love the earth can still have a clear conscious when buying your next LiTshade. From now on just call Dawn Captain Planet of the lamp shade world.

Let's go Marimekko!

Have you ever had a fabric move you? You know you see it and just know all of your clothes and everything in your house must be made out of it immediately? Ok probably not, but if you saw the Marimekko fabric line used to make a number of the shades at LiT, your fabric world would be rocked.

The Marimekko Corporation was established in 1951 and since then has become the leading Finnish textile and clothing design world wide. Marimekko actually started off as Printex, a company which produced oilcloth and printed fabrics but was purchased by Viljo and Armi Ratia, in 1949. The always innovative Armi decided to commission young artists to design fabric prints for the company, which resulted in entirely new, boldly colored and patterned fabrics. People admired them, but did not really know what use they could have (duh lamp shades). So it was decided to make a small collection of clothing to demonstrate the uses of the fabrics. A separate company was established called Marimekko Oy to make the clothing. The first Marimekko collection was designed by Riitta Immonen and was presented to the Finnish public in a fashion show at the Kalastajatorppa restaurant in Helsinki in May 1951, a year later the first Marimekko retail shop opened.

In a 1960 trip to Europe, Jacqueline Kennedy bought seven Marimekko cotton frocks on a single occasion making Marimekko fabric suddenly know world wide. Jacqueline Kennedy did for Marimekko what Michelle Obama has done with the colorful ensembles of Maria Pinto. With such a heated election, Jacqueline Kennedy’s fashion sense made headlines, thus pushing Marimekko to the front of the pack for U.S. fashion. During the election, Marimekko patterns and styles appeared on the pages of some 400 newspapers and magazines.

Marimekko has continued to be one of the forerunners in fabric and textile manufacturing today and now has retail stores throughout the U.S. They also organize the "Design: meet the user," a design competition which aims to find fresh ideas for Marimekko's interior decor line, very similar to how Armi Ratia established the company in the first place, so many years ago.
So where can you find Marimekko now? Well, the clothing and home accessories can also be found down at Tuuli on First Ave. near the Pike Place market. If you want to see what Marimekko looks like illuminated- come into LiT and see one of the shades made out of the Vanita's print (Dawn's favorite) design your own shade using one of the many classic and contemporary Marimekko prints carried in the store. You know I will.

Where to Find a LiTshade?

Writing about your accomplishments isn't always necessary. However, on a blog it seems to be all you do. So, in order to keep with modern technology lets talk about where LiTshades have found themselves.

The Sitting Room with its European living room feel is located at the bottom of Queen Anne hill.The food is great the drinks are amazing and the lighting is LiT. All of the lampshades in the Sitting Room were made specifically for the space by LiT. The great part of you reading this post is you are able to now go check out the shades and see for yourself how much you like LiTshades.

Go sit next to one on the sofa and sip a drink and read a book. Saddle up to the bar and see the little shade which lights up the cash register or just visit with friends by the warm, soft unintrusive light of the other LiTshades. Their happy hour is from 5-7, so that should make things simple.

Regardless of your purpose go check out the LiTshades at the Sitting Room and enjoy a drink and take in a shade. Go now, what are you waiting for?

Light the Way and Love the Earth

Who doesn't love saving the earth? Everybody. If you don't, you better keep it to yourself, it's the number one way to lose friends. Luckily, in order to save the world you no longer have to stop bathing, live in a yurt, or hook up your aerobics bike to a generator to produce your own electricity. Now you just need to be aware of the products you are using. Products like plastic bottles, Styrofoam and lampshades.

Yes lampshades, in case you didn't know most lampshades have a plastic styrene backing which in no way is biodegradable. They are then coated with toxic glue then the fabric. Lets think what happens when this glue gets hot,....toxic glue....hot light bulb....your baby's room....hum? None too good for the earth, and on the aesthetic side- most plastic based shades are ugly, thus none too good for your decor.

We at LiT are taking a stand against ugly toxic shades by making our shades earth friendly through careful consideration in the materials used in producing LiTshades. Instead of plastic Dawn uses only paper backing. The backing is laminated using water based, non-toxic adhesive and then the reclaimed, recycled or re-purposed fabrics and papers give the shades their final touch. She also insists on only using natural fiber textiles like silks and cottons. I personally can vouch for this because I am going to be given a color swatch list of silk colors she wants me to buy from the locals when I go to Vietnam in two months.

Speaking of Vietnam, Dawn makes all her shades by hand, usually sitting quietly or rocking out to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in her shop. Her shades are not mass produced in Vietnam, Indonesia, or China in large crazy factories by little kids for two cents a day.

With this earth friendly piece of mind you can now rock your lucky little one to sleep under the soft light of a LiT shade and know that the decision you made to buy a LiT shade was one that was good for you as a mom, and Mother Earth.

Do more good in the world, visit Vitamin Angles and see how a little "A" can go a long way.

Ferm Wallpaper shades!

How the time flies! I apologize for missing the last 2 weeks of blogs. Much has been going on!

We are due to get a shipment of Ferm wallpapers and will be turning that into beautiful shades and will now have in stock more custom options to choose from.

The shop is a busy mess and we can't seem to keep it tidy- but busy is good!

I must get back to the shade I am finishing-gold and cream marbled paper/hexagon shape. Here's a picture to savor, and prepare for more to come!

create your own LiT shade kits!

we finished putting together our new gift option- create your own lampshade kits by LiT! the perfect gift for someone who needs some bright, some light, or just a really great lampshade!

here's how it works:

you purchase the kit that includes samples and card giving directions and name of who sent their gift. price includes custom kit and final product that will be shipped to the recipient’s residence.

they choose from 3 papers, 21 silk colors, and 3 different application techniques.

then they return the card with their selections checked in the stamped addressed envelope back to LiT.

we receive their order, create their custom shade and ship it to them within 3 weeks!

to order visit our website at www.litshades.com and click "gifts".

Lithograph shades by Kirillov

Light pours out, cascades down; lavender, nectarine, petal pink paper faces. Each surface printed with multiple arrangements of hand carved block prints of cityscape's, bridge spans, wheels and waterways.

Kirillov, a Russian born artist, too young to be "set in his ways" but with the mastery of materials seen in veteran artists, twists and sings cut paper and printed images to life. Breathing a strange and beautiful landscape full of layer and dimension onto a flat piece of handmade paper.

LiT is honored and excited to work with Kirillov in bringing his paper pieces into the lighting world. To take his cities and bridges and turn on the street lamps and create function where high art already exists.

Pendants, layered shades, and custom options available at http://www.litshades.com/ or visit our store at 314 Occidental Ave S, Seattle WA, 98104.